Moving from Praying to Doing

Read Nehemiah 10.

The leaders took time to spiritually prepare the people before they made a public commitment to the LORD.  It was more than a list of promises.  It was a declaration of action steps that they would do immediately.  They were willing to step forward and write their names on a covenant for all to read.  The names of the leaders appeared on the seal of the covenant.

What were those action steps?
1. They separated themselves from unholy relationships.
This was painful, but they had mixed allegiance to the God of heaven with the paganism surrounding them.

2. They vowed to observe all the commands of the Scriptures.
Specifically here, they would honor God by putting the expectations of Sabbath into practice.

3. They began behaving like stewards, instead of entitled owners.
They made sure that the local ministry had the resources needed.
They took turns serving the practical needs of the local ministry.
They gave 10% of the first of their income to that local ministry.
They declared, "We will not neglect the house of our God."
 
Two insights that made this work.
-Leaders can never expect the people do something they are not doing themselves.
Positional leaders living in disobedience will divide and strangle a ministry.

-Notice that there is no "working toward" separation, tithing and the rest.  Grace?  Certainly.  But, either a person is living in obedience to God or they are disobedient to Him.